Are There Best Abdominal Exercises Out There?

One of the problem modern trainers have to deal with everyday is that of unlearning and help people unlearn what has been always taught as the best abdominal exercises. It is a concept that over the years has been changing, yet people get stuck in the same old concepts and exercises that can lead to injuries.

To be more specific, we are talking about the sit ups and the common crunches. To a lot of folks they are the best abdominal exercises and any other new exercise tot hem is just wasting time. However –whether they like it or not – they are wrong. A sit up is a hard-to-do-properly exercise. To be effective you must have a certain position and any shift can put the strain on the neck or the lower back.

Sit ups can easily lead to pain and injury. So if you feel any kind of pain doing sit ups, stop doing them at once. Remember that your spine is very precious and you don’t have to mess with it.

There are other folks who stick to the principle of "doing hundreds of repetitions quickly". However that strategy is very ineffective because only the outer muscles are trained, without first working the "pillars" of our abs section: the transverse abdominus. The need for slower, core exercise then is evident.

You want a truly effective abdominal exercise? Well, according to the San Diego State University, the "Bicycle Maneuver" is the best abdominal exercise. Here it is in just four steps:

• Lie with your back on the floor; make sure your lower back is pressed on the floor.

• Bring your hands behind your head. Then bring up your knees at a 45 degree angle.

• Start doing a bicycle pedaling motion. Touch your elbow with the opposite knee and don’t put your feet on the floor at any time.

• Breathe relaxed and evenly throughout the whole exercise. Repeat for a full set.

Another overlooked way to find the best abdominal exercises is using water as a tool. It provides a perfect resistance to let us work on our abs. Water exercises are not an easy thing! Just try standing –with water at chest level – on your feet without losing balance and you’ll see what I mean! These are core exercises that besides making you look hotter will have a tremendous positive impact in your health.

The classic "best abdominal exercises" are not the best no more. Fitness is also evolving each passing year and it is better to drop old ways of thinking. Good luck getting the abdominal muscles of your dreams!

Learn how to get the stomach you want with The Truth About Six Pack Abs.

While you are there be sure to join our newsletter for tips and more product reviews.